Saturday, June 19, 2010

Breaking Down the UPEI and St. FX Women's Recruits

--By Dylan Matthias

Sure, we gave Dalhousie their own post, but St. FX and UPEI also announced recruiting classes in women's soccer. We'd be remiss not to assign them some brief thoughts and a grade, too.

Breaking Down Dalhousie's Recruits

--By Dylan Matthias

We now have a much better idea what the Tigers women's soccer team will look like in 2010: very similar to 2009.

That's not a bad thing, because 2009 was a good season until November 7th, when it all ended disastrously. It's easy to rely on clichéd excuses: they were too young, the weather was bad, bad games happen, goalkeepers occasionally miss 35-yard shots. Sometimes, though, clichés are clichés because they're true.

And it's true the 2010 Tigers will be a year older and a year better. Players who were too quiet in 2009 will be more comfortable in 2010.

First of the Men's Soccer Recruits: St. FX

--By Dylan Matthias

The St. FX X-Men have added a small but potentially solid group of recruits for the 2010 season.

Steven Rodenhiser (GK), Michael Tait (M), Graeme Spink (CB), John Troncoso (WM), Graeme Hodgkinson (DM), and Mark Harpur (D) are all joining the X-Men.

The recruiting class is experienced above all else, with Tait, Spink, and Harpur all having trialled at or worked with professional clubs or academies. Spink was even offered a contract at Dundee FC, but wanted to pursue a university education. Tait trialled at three Scottish clubs including Celtic.